Redemption Power

Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus about the spiritual blessings of God in Christ Jesus. Through Jesus we have been blessed with all things, and we were chosen and predestined before the foundations of the earth. Jesus Christ redeemed us through his blood and has forgiven us of our sins through his grace. Through Jesus Christ, we have gained an eternal inheritance, which was predestined to us before creation. This promise of Jesus Christ has been sealed through the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit acts as a guarantor of our eternal inheritance, until we are fully redeemed to God.

Although we all have sinned, God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all wrong doing (1 John 1:9). We have to start with confessing our sins. It does not make sense to deny our wrong doing and to pretend that it never happened. “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment” (Psalm 51:3-4). David did some very evil things, but he confessed his sins and gained forgiveness. Our God is eternally gracious and always ready to forgive us.

Denying our sins allows the devil to keep us in bondage. Isaiah said that God’s hand is not short so that he cannot save us, nor is he deaf so that he cannot hear. If you are praying and you feel like your prayers aren’t being answered, then you may have unconfessed sins. “but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). There is no point trying to deny our wrongdoing when God sees everything. His eyes are in every place, beholding the good and the evil (Proverbs 15:5). It is interesting that we are more concerned, with being seen by other people and not as concerned that God sees everything.

I say all of this to say that God is in the redemption business. God is faithful, just, kind and gracious and he is always waiting to forgive us and restore us to right relationship. As a parent, there are times when a child does something wrong and you are aware. You may pretend not to know, while you wait and hope that the child will admit what they have done wrong. God is waiting for us to come to Him and confess, so that the devil cannot continue to blackmail us with what we did wrong. What else will the devil have to use against you when you have already confessed to God? There is peace in knowing that we are forgiven and that we have a clear conscience before God.

A.P.-Y.